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<br />o <br />-.l <br />o <br />00 <br /> <br />The Advisory Council has met once during the period covered by this report in Newport <br />Beach, California, on November 18, 1992. At that meeting, the Council received reports from <br />and made inquiries of the federal agencies involved in salinity control, and approved budget <br />recommendations contained in this 1992 Annual Report. <br /> <br />COUNCIL COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS <br /> <br />The reports, 1991 Joint Evaluation of Salinity Control Programs in the Colorado River <br />Basin, January 1992, by the Bureau of Reclamation, Bureau of Land Management and the <br />Department of Agriculture, and 1990 Review. Water Ouality Standards for Salinity - Colorado <br />River System, by the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Forum, describe the individual <br />salinity control projects and their status. Therefore, the Council will make no attempt to repeat <br />that information in this Annual Report. <br /> <br />General Comments <br /> <br />The Council appreciates the efforts of the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), the <br />Bureau of Land Management (ELM) and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) relative to the <br />preparation of the 1991 Joint Evaluation Report. The Council urges the federal agencies to <br />continue to consult with the Forum and Work Group regarding the proposed program changes, <br />results of program evaluation, and revisions to the implementation schedule for salinity control <br />project. <br /> <br />Favorable hydrology during the period 1983-87 temporarily lowered salinity levels in the <br />lower river. However, with below normal flows since 1987 salinity levels are again increasing. <br />In addition, inadequate funding levels, particularly for the Department of Agriculture, have <br />resulted in delays in the implementation of planned salinity control activities. It is imperative <br />that the federal agencies vigorously pursue adequate funding to carry out the proposed salinity <br />control activities as set forth in the 1990 Review and the 1991 Joint Evaluation Report. <br /> <br />In October 1967, the President signed Executive Order 12088 which directs the head of <br />each Executive agency to take all necessary actions for the prevention, control and abatement <br />of environmental pollution with respect to federal facilities and activities under the control of <br />the agency. This would include directing the agency head to make strong recommendations to <br />Congress to appropriate sufficient funds for compliance with approved pollution control <br />standards. In addition, the Order provides for cooperation with State, interstate, and local <br />agencies in the prevention, control, and abatement of environmental degradation. <br /> <br />The Council believes that the federal agencies have done an outstanding job in following <br />the directives of the Executive Order with regard to coordination and joint development of the <br />implementation plan. However, appropriations to carry out the activities recommended in the <br />implementation plan have not been sufficient to assure the numeric criteria will be met in the <br />future. <br /> <br />2 <br /> <br />L.I <br />